The Malta Health Students’ Association (MHSA) lamented at the omission of the long-proposed new medical school from this year’s Budget document.

The students’ association described how “healthcare students were ignored and forgotten once again” as “the new budget included no mention pertaining to the allocation of resources and funding towards the completion of the medical school.”

Local students within the fields of health and medicine have long spoken of their frustration at the stagnation of this project, especially with their desired need for updated facilities, equipment, and their current lack of student spaces.

The proposed medical school was announced back in 2019 and was promised to be up and running by December 2022; during its announcement, Health Minister Chris Fearne stated that through this, the Maltese islands would have “two of the best facilities in Europe”.

The medical school, located near the University of Malta, however is still in shell form due to disputes over its funding.

A common point of frustration for these students throughout this debacle has been a cited lack of communication. Despite numerous statements being published by students on this matter, MHSA stated that “no comments were issued” from the Ministers of Health and Education respectively. With 2023 soon coming to an end, “there still has been no news concerning the medical school,” they said.

MHSA also noted that during a meeting held last September during Freshers’ week with Mr. Tony Sultana, the current Chief Permanent Secretary, “The issue of the medical school was brought up in the meeting and yet again, no concrete answer was given.”

When sending questions about this project back in September this year, this newsroom first contacted the Health Ministry, only for it to be redirected to the Education Ministry. The Education Ministry never responded.

The Malta Health Students’ Association also cited the Government’s 2022 electoral manifesto, “Manifest 2022”, which stated in point 475 that “The quality of the health service depends on the level of education received by medical professionals”. MHSA then highlighted that this manifesto had also stated that this medical school and its top-class facilities would “assure that our country will continue to have medical professionals with the best skills for the future”.

MHSA concluded their statement by saying that “After more than a year waiting with no response, the importance given to the health service in Malta is left questionable”.